Conductor releasing clamp



March 6, 1934. n sc 1,949,562

CONDUCTOR RELEASING CLAMP Filed Nov- 11, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 6,1934.

N. DEISCH 1,949,562

CONDUCTOR RELEASING CLAMP Filed Nov. 11. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIIIUFIG. 4 2% M March 6, 1934. N D c CONDUCTOR RELEASING CLAMP Filed Nov.11, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTorrics.

CONDUCTOR RELEASING CLAMP Noel De isch, Washington, D. 0., assignor toLocke insulator Corporation, Baltimore, Mdl, a corporation of MarylandApplication November 11, 1929, Serial No. 406.421

14' Claims. (Cl. 248-31) The invention relates to clamps for the sustakeplace, as for example during ordinary windy pension of the conductorsforming part of high Weather conditions, or expansion and contractensiontransmission lines. tion of the ccnductorin a span affected by localTheprincipal object of the invention, generally temperature variationswithout releasing it, it stated, is to provide a clamp adapted forsusbeing necessary that the inclination exceed a cerpending a conductorfrom the usual towers or tain safe limit before release occurs. otherequivalent supports and characterized by A further object is to providea clamp of this capability of releasing its gripping action upon type inwhich the parts cannot become disasthe conductor in the event ofbreaking thereof sociated and lost when release takes place, adeorexcessive strain thereupon at one side of a q lie means ei p ov for w y'h tower, the result being that the conductor may the parts togetherunder every condition. slip: with respect to one or more of the clamps Astill further Object is pmvide a Clamp and: the strain be distributedinstead of it all the character described in which there is nowearcoming upon a single tower with possible damage pon any f hoperating fa der n rmal 15 thereto. conditions, there being consequentlyno diminu- It is well known that under certain climatic o of the C a paction resulting from p conditions there may be a thick and very heavylonged use. accumulation of sleet or ice upon a transmission A11additional Object is 150 provide a Clamp line and where the spans arevery long it is 1305- this type w c wil1 be simple a p Ve 20 sib'lezthatthis great weight may cause breakage of 110 make, easy to pp positive ina the; conductor or at least such tremendous sageffisiohi? and ab e n sea d ae al ging. as to exert an excessive strain upon the p v ent in theart.

adjacent tower. The same condition may occur T0 e atta ment of theforegoing and other as: the result of high wind at one side or theObjects and a a t invention p 'r other of a ridge and, indeed, fromother causes. ably consists in the details of construction and It-iswiththese facts in view that I have devised the arrangement and combinationof parts t b the present invention which has for an importanthereinafter more fully described d a ed. object the provision of asuspension clamp which and illustrated in the s p y d aw in is adaptedandintended to be hung from a string Whichi of insulators, as iscustomary, and which will un- Figlli'e 1 is a s de e vation of a clampconderordinary circumstances grip the conductor structed in accordancewith my invention showwith absolute firmness but which will under somemg the some in normal pos t o n full lines and circumstances release itsholding action and perreleasing position y d and d lines, u; thconductor t slip through Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view with35 Another important object is to provide a clamp a few pOrtiOns left inelevation, I

of this character which may be described as trig- Figure 3 is a p Viewwith the suspensiDn ger. operated, that is to. say one in which themember shOwn in seCtiOn, holding action will be maintained until theclamp Figure 4 s o end evation with the conductor and the string ofinsulators suspending the same in sECtiOIl,

40 have beenpulled by strain on the conductor into Figure, 5 is a Ve t lcross sectional View taken l or beyond a certain predeterminedinclination at ant a y the n er, whereupon release occurs, notgradually, but sud- Figure 6 is a View p y in side vat on and denly.andcompletely so that there will be a quick partly in section showing amodification,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view thereof release.

Another object. of the invention is to provide with t e y and suspensionmember d,

a clamp of this character which after release will and I notautomatically reassume its clamping action Figure 8 s a View p y in ndelevation and with possible determent to an unarmored portion partly inC l ve cal Cross section. of the conductor in cases where armor is pro-Re erring more pa t c a y the d aw s I 50 vided where the clamps arelocated, but which have shown my clamp as prisin a lower 13 will remainopen until manually reset in aproper clamp member 10 formed as anelongated manner by a repair tool. body having a channel or groove 11therein for Another object is to provide a clamp in which the receptionof the conductor A, the endsbeing a certainfreedom of movement orswinging of preferably flared downwardly at 12 to avoid con.- theclampitself" and. supporting; insulatorsmay" tact of any edges with thecablesothat there will- 1 links from the trunnions, the latter may ifde- 'ber 10. To provide for the desired releasing be no noticeablebending strains upon vibration of the conductor. This lower clampingmember is preferably reinforced by transverse ribs 13 at its undersideand a longitudinally extending web 14 merging thereinto. At its upperportion this lower member is formed with laterally extending pairs ofspaced ears 15 provided, preferably, with tapped holes 16, the earshaving their lower portions merging more or less gradually into the bodyof the member so as to avoid sharp angles and provide a strongerstructure.

The device further includes a yoke 17 which may be of substantiallyinverted U or V-shape and. terminating in attaching portions or ears 18overlying the ears 15 and rigidly secured thereto as by cap screws 19threaded into the tapped holes 16. Obviously, bolts and nuts may be usedin lieu of the cap screws as such elements are equivalents.

Cooperating with the lower clamping member 10 is an upper clampingmember shown, in Figures 1 to 5, as a leaf spring assembly indicatedgenerally by the numeral 20. This assembly is here represented ascomprising a lower master leaf 21 upon which are superposed and to whichare secured, as by rivets 22 or the like, shorter leaves 23. All of theleaves have a tendency to fiex upwardly at the center, as shown inFigure 2, but are intended to be forced downwardly and held so inclamping relation to the conductor A by the means to be described. Themaster leaf 21 is shown as having its ends reflexly curved or extendedtoward each other as shown at 24, the ends terminating adjacent theopposite ends of the yoke 1'7 so that the spring assembly cannot becomedisplaced under any conditions as these ends are in obstructing relationto the ears or attaching portions 18 of the yoke.

Located within the confines of the yoke is a trigger-like holding memberor pressure maintaining element 25 prevented from lateral displacementwith respect to the yoke as by means of spaced upstanding ribs 26 whichstraddle the bight portion of the yoke. This member is shown as havinglaterally extending trunnions 2'7 received within holes 28 in suspensionlinks 29 which may be apertured at 30 for passage of any securingelement for suspending them from the lower end of a string ofinsulators. Though there is little likelihood of disengagement of thesired-be equipped with cotter pins 31 which will positively prevent sucha contingency. The lower end of the holding member 25 is preferablybeveled off at opposite sides and is so finished as to have acomparatively small flat bearing surface 32 adapted to engage squarelyupon the center of the master leaf at the top thereof for holding thespring leaf assembly down in clamping relation to the conductor andmemaction the member 25 is provided at opposite sides with laterallyextending lugs 33 located in the path of spaced lugs 34 or horns at thelower corners of the links 29. It is to be noted that the distancebetween the lugs 34' is considerably greater than the width of the lugs33 so that the links 29 may have considerable movement about thetrunnions 27 before the lugs 34 can engage the lugs 33 and trip theholding member or force it into releasing position.

The device is most readily assembled or installed on the line by firstplacing the member 25 in position within the yoke 17 and. engaging thelinks 29 upon the projecting trunnions 27 and preventing withdrawalthereof by inserting the cotter pins 31. The lower clamping member 10 isthen placed under the conductor and the spring assembly 20 placed overthe conductor and within the groove or channel 11 in the lower clampingmember. The parts are then so shifted or manipulated as to bring thelower clamping member in position beneath the suspended yoke 17 which isof course supported from the insulator string by means of the links 29.When the parts are properly positioned the cars 15 will be beneath theattaching portions or ears 18 on the yoke so that the cap screws 19 maybe readily passed through the cars 18 and screwed down into the tappedholes 15. Just as soon as the screws have been started, care should betaken that the holding member 25 be in such position that its flatbearing surface 32 will engage squarely upon the top of the master leaf21. As the cap screws are then turned down the leaf spring assembly 20will be compressed into clamping engagement with the conductor. Clearly,the degree of clamping engagement may be varied by turning down the capscrews more or less. This completes the installation.

In the operation, it will be seen that under normal circumstances theinsulator string depends substantially vertically with the links 29extending practically straight down and with the holding member 25maintaining the leaf spring assembly compressed against the conductorwhich is of course gripped between the spring assembly and the bottom ofthe channel or groove 11, thus providing an efficient holding action. Acertain swinging movement of the insulator string and links 29 ispermissible as should be possible to take care of minor swaying of theconductor under different conditions. However, in the event of thebringing of excessive strain upon the conductor at either side of thepoint of support, which strain might result from breakage of the supportitself or a thick accumulation or coating of ice or. sleet thereon, theinsulator string and links 29 will be pulled excessively so that thelinks will assume a greatly inclined position with respect to the clamp,as indicated by dot and dash lines in Figure 1. When this occurs onepair of the horns or lugs 34 will engage against the lugs 33 andassembly and there is then consequently nothing I to hold the springdown in its clamping relation to the conductor and its natural upwardflexing tendency will cause it to bow upwardly out of engagement withthe conductor so that the latter will be free to slip through. This mayoccur at several towers or points of support and the excess strain uponthe conductor is consequently distributed throughout perhaps severalspans. The parts will remain in this released position until inspectionof the line is made and repairs efiected by a proper crew. There is anadvantage in this feature that the clamp will not re-grip the conductorupon the cessation of the excess strain, and that is that particularlyin cases where the conductor is armored at the clamping points my iclamp cannot by any reengaging effect cause manipulation of theconductor by gripping it at an unprotected point. Reclamping is at anytime readily reefiected manually by loosening the cap screws 19,restoring the holding member 25 to its normal upright position, and thenretightening the cap screws to the desired extent.

It is conceivable that numerous variations of the idea may be resortedto and in Figures 6, '7 and 8 I have illustrated a modification in whichthe lower clamping member 10 is the same as above described but in whichthe clamping leaf spring assembly is replaced by anupper. clampingmember 35 which has a reduced longitudinally extending lower portion 36fitting within the groove or channel 11 and which has a widenedintermediate portion 37 fitting between the lugs 15 on the lowerclamping member. A yoke 17 with attaching portions or ears 18 cap screws19 a holding member with trunnions 27 equipped with cotter pins 31 areprovided as above described, and the holding member is formed with lugs33 engageable by lugs 34A on the links in exactly the same manner asabove described. However, the upper clamping member 35 is formedcentrally of. its top with a recess or cavity 38 within. which. I locateone or more upwardly bowed plate springs 39 engageable by the bearingsurface 32 at the underside or lower end of the holding member 25 Theoperation of this form is exactly the same as that of the first form,the only difference being a matter of detailed construction of theclamping means which engages upon the top of the conductor. In the firstform of the invention it is the upwardly and backwardly bent ends of themaster leaf spring which prevent longitudinal displacement of the upperclamping member whereas in this modification it is the enlarged centralportion 3'? of the clamping member which accomplishes the same result.Both forms of the invention possess substantially the same advantagesand either may be used most advantageously as the beneficial qualitiesare common to both. From the foregoing it is believed that theconstruction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred J embodiments of theinvention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely anexemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved tomake all such changes in the details of construction as will widen thefield of utility and increase the adaptability of the device providedsuch changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

. 1. A clamp for supporting a conductor comprising a lower clampingmember, a supporting member carrying the same, suspension means, anupper clamping member cooperating with the conductor and the lowerclamping member, and trigger released holding means carrying saidsupport and directly engaging the upper clamping member for normallyholding the same in clamping relation to the conductor.

2. A conductor supporting device comprising upper and lower clampingmembers disposable upon a conductor, suspension means, a movable holdingmember carried by the suspension means and normally engaging the upperclamping member for holding the same in clamping relation to theconductor, and means carried by the suspension means and cooperatingwith said holding member for rendering the latter ineffective uponswinging movement of the suspension means beyond a predetermined limitwith respect to the clamping members.

3. A conductor supporting. clamp: comprising upper and lower clampingmembers disposable against a conductor, suspension means. pivoted withrespect to said clamping members for sup porting the same, means carriedby and movable with respect to the suspension means and nor mallydirectly engaging and holding the clamping members inv clampingrelation. to the conductor, and means for tripping said holding meansand rendering the same ineffective upon swinging movement of thesuspension means beyond a predetermined limit with respect to the'clamping members.

4. A conductor supporting clamp comprising upper and lower clampingmembers, means for restraining said clamping members against relativelongitudinal and lateraldisplacement, means carried by the lowerclamping member and ex.- tending above the upper clamping member,holding means pivoted within said supporting means and normally engagingthe upper clamping member for holding both clamping members in clampingrelation to the conductor, suspension means pivoted upon said holdingmeans, and coacting. trip means on the holding means and suspension.means for rendering the former ineffective upon. swinging of the latterbeyond. a predetermined extent.

5. A conductor supporting. clamp comprising upper and lower clampingmembers; means for. restraining said clamping members against relativelongitudinal and lateral displacement, means. carried by the lowerclamping member and extending above the upper clamping member,.holdingmeans pivoted within. said supporting means and normally engaging theupper clamping member for holdingboth clamping members in clampingrelation to the conductor, suspension means pivoted upon said holdingmeans, and coacting trip means on the holding means and suspension meansfor rendering the former ineffective upon swinging of the latter beyonda predetermined. extent, comprising laterally extending lugs on theholding means and spaced lugs on the. suspension means engageabletherewith.

6. A conductor supporting clamp comprising: upper and lower clampingmembers, a yoke, means for adjustably securing the yoke to. the lowerclamping member, a holding member rock'- able within the yoke andnormally engaging the upper clamping member, suspension means pivotedwith respect to the yoke, and coacting means on the holding member andsuspension means for moving the former out of engagement with the upperclamping member upon swinging movement of the suspension means beyond apredetermined limit.

7. A conductor supporting clamp comprising upper. and lower clampingmembers, a yoke, means for adjustably securing the yoke to the lowerclamping member, a holding member rockable within the yoke and normallyengaging the upper clamping member, suspension means pivoted withrespect to the yoke, and coacting means on the holding member andsuspension means for moving the former out of engagement with the upperclamping member upon swinging movement of the suspension means beyond apredetermined limit, the upper clamping member embodying bowed springmeans normally flexing away from the conductor but held in engagementtherewith by said holding member.

8. A conductor supporting clamp comprising upper and lower clampingmembers, a yoke,

means for adjustably securing the yoke to the i lower clamping member, aholding member rockable within the yoke and normally engaging the upperclamping member, suspension means pivoted with respect to the yoke, andcoacting means on the holding member and suspension means for moving theformer out of engagement with the upper clamping member upon swingingmovement of the suspension means beyond a predetermined limit, the upperclamping member embodying spring means directly engaged by the holdingmember and prevented from longitudinal movement by the yoke.

9. A conductor supporting clamp comprising upper and lower clampingmembers, a support secured to the lower clamping member and ex tendingabove the upper clamping member, a member movable within the support andnormally reacting thereagainst and against the upper clamping member forproviding a clamping action, suspension means, and means normally out ofengagement with said movable member operable upon relative swingingmovement of the suspension means beyond a predetermined limit forshifting the position of said member to render it ineffective, the upperclamping member consisting of leaf spring means engaging the eonductorand said member.

10. A conductor supporting clamp comprising upper and lower clampingmembers, a support secured to the lower clamping member and eX- tendingabove the upper clamping member, a member movable within the support andnormally reacting thereagainst and against the upper clamping member forproviding a clamping action, suspension means, means normally out ofengagement with said movable member operable upon relative swingingmovement of the suspension means beyond a predetermined limit forshifting the position of said member to render it ineffective, and meanson said upper clamping member cooperating with said support to preventrelative longitudinal movement or" the upper and lower clamping memberseven when the movable member is shifted to ineffective position.

11. A conductor supporting clamp comprising upper and lower clampingmembers, a support secured to the lower clamping member and extendingabove the upper clamping member, a member movable within the support andnormally reacting thereag'ainst and against the upper clamping memberfor providing a clamping action, suspension means, and means normallyout of engagement with said movable member operable upon relativeswinging movement of the suspension means beyond a predetermined limitfor shifting the position of said member to render it ineffective, andmeans for adjusting said support toward or from the lower clampingmember for adjusting the reaction of said member against the upperclamping member.

12. A conductor clamp comprising a lower clamping member, asubstantially U-shaped yoke secured thereto and extending longitudinallythereof, an upper clamping member formed as a laminated spring locatedbetween the yoke and the lower clamping member and having upturned endscooperating with the former whereby it will be restrained againstlongitudinal displacement, a cam-like keeper located within the confinesof the yoke, and suspension links pivoted to said keeper and havingmeans thereon for tripping the same and rendering the clamp inefiectivewhen the links swing beyond a predetermined extent with respect to theclamp.

13. A clamp for supporting a conductor comprising a lower clampingmember, a supporting member carried by the same, suspension means, anupper clamping member cooperating with the conductor and the lowerclamping member, trigger released holding means carried by said supportand directly engaging the upper clamping member for normally holding thesame in clamping relation to the conductor, and means at the ends of theupper clamping member cooperating with the support for prevent nglongitudinal movement of the upper clamping member.

14. A clamp for supporting a conductor compr'sing a lower clampingmember, a supporting member carrying the same, supporting means, anupper clamping member cooperating with the conductor and the lowerclamping member and formed in its top with a cavity, bowed spring meansentirely contained within said cavity, and trigger released holdingmeans carrying said support and directly engaging said spring means fornormally maintaining the upper clamping memher in clamping relation tothe conductor.

NOEL DEISCH.

